As I added above, there is a more emotive phonetic quality to the word disdain. Contempt sounds rather Victorian, a bit stuffy and reserved.
Aye, connotation wise it's true. For example, if I have some contempt for the uptight in-laws, well those family reunions will be a long and painful ride. Each and every time. If I feel disdain towards them however I won't show up at all, nor would they expect me to.
Oh sure I accept that with the sounds, but the actual word meaning - even the etymology - doesn't explain the perceptual difference (to me anyway). The point I was failing to make I think is best displayed by this video:
Essentially: Taboo words vocalised while suffering pain reduces the pain and increases endurance. When individuals become desensitised to taboo words - from excess usage - their ability to withstand common pains is reduced. Presumably this dilution effect can occur with any word.
Essentially: Taboo words vocalised while suffering pain reduces the pain and increases endurance. When individuals become desensitised to taboo words - from excess usage - their ability to withstand common pains is reduced. Presumably this dilution effect can occur with any word.
Yeah, Disdain is far more intense.
I always thought that contempt is a very "soft" word, when i read the novels it always used to nag me because it made Tedd Deireádh seem like so casual -.-
I must say though, bollocks is one of the greatest English words in existance :yes
British English has all the great expressions.
I always thought that contempt is a very "soft" word, when i read the novels it always used to nag me because it made Tedd Deireádh seem like so casual -.-
I must say though, bollocks is one of the greatest English words in existance :yes
British English has all the great expressions.
Interesting. I'm not sure I quite follow you, there, as I'm not familiar with that particular concept. However, 'vulgar' and 'appropriate' words are also designated by a rather complex interplay of factors, deriving from historical social and cultural usages among the classes. I can't go into great detail now, but I will remark that cultural perceptions heavily shape our understanding of, and associations with, the power, obscenity, or humour of words.
Absolutely, and Taboo words are the perfect article for exploring this very thing. Taboo words are never unnecessary, they are essential, and yet socially unacceptable even though as words they're harmless communicative representations of concepts, usually disturbing things admittedly, but this ability they have to reduce pain seems to come from the very fact that our societies train us to be shocked by such words - and remember part of their potency depends on rare encounters - and the shock releases some endorphins.
SO arguably other words - while not affecting pain or endorphins - could retain a greater force of meaning through its very rarity.
TL ; DR: Familiarity breeds contempt ?
I'm terrible with brain chemistry, unfortunately, so I can only relate to that line of explanation to a degree. However, common usage of a word does lessen its effect, in most cases, whether 'vulgar' or 'elevated' in register. For example, the word 'visceral' -- pertaining to internal organs -- has been run into the ground recently, by repetition to describe trivialities. On a different note, the same goes for 'epic' and 'saga'. These words have very specific meanings, (and the two latter, specific literary ones) but, when put into general circulation, they become overused, lose the precision of their meanings, and, by the same token, their power. A varied vocabulary can help to preserve the power of individual words, as no one word becomes overused for all occasions. (Epic is a prime example of an 'elevated' word which is now clichéd by overuse.)
I would dearly enjoy exploring this topic further, but, sadly, we are off topic, and, most unfortunately, I don't have enough time, now! So, it shall just have to wait.